saang1 cung4生蟲生虫

Jyutpingsaang1 cung4

Yalesāang chùhng

動詞Uncommon

Definition

To become infested with worms or to contract a parasitic disease.

to contract parasites or worms in the body
to become infested with worms, maggots, or insects (of food or organic matter)

colloquialfoodhealth

How it's used

Primarily used to describe food that has gone bad or become infested with insects, but also frequently used as a playful or teasing remark towards someone who eats a large amount of food without gaining weight. It implies that the person's metabolism is so fast that it is as if they have a parasite consuming their nutrients. When referring to food, it is often used with the aspect particle 晒 to emphasize that the entire batch is ruined.

Examples

ni1呢di1啲mai5米fong3放dak1得taai2太noi6耐，saang1生saai3晒cung4蟲laa3喇。

This rice has been kept too long and is now infested with bugs.

nei5你tou5肚jap6入min6面hai6係mai6咪saang1生cung4蟲aa4呀？dim2點gaai2解sik6食gik6極dou1都m4唔fei4肥ge3嘅？

Do you have parasites in your stomach? Why can't you put on any weight no matter how much you eat?

Common phrases

mai5米saang1生cung4蟲

rice infested with weevils

tou5肚saang1生cung4蟲

to have intestinal parasites

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with simply seeing a single insect on food. 生蟲 implies an infestation where the insects have developed or multiplied within the item, making it unfit for consumption.